Member’s new book reveals media relations strategies

National Press Club member Ed Barks is offering what he calls an AP style guide for working with the media in his latest book, "Reporters Don’t Hate You: 100+ Amazing Media Relations Strategies." 

”It takes a lifetime to prepare to meet the media," said Barks, whose book was published on July 7. "It only takes one bad interview to undo all that hard work. This book offers a comprehensive, ready reference that stops corporate spokespeople from stumbling into the bad interview abyss.”

The new volume lists over 100 media relations strategies broken out into categories including pre-interview preparations, sharpening the spokesperson’s mindset, performance guidelines for dealing with the press, among other topics.

It also includes a reporter’s glossary that defines terms corporate spokespeople would be wise to absorb. The explanations range from “above the fold” to “wire service,” and reveal specifics about such jargon as B-roll, lede, and off-the-record.

Barks encouraged readers to write an honest review of the book on their preferred booksellers’ websites, and on digital media channels like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and elsewhere.

Early reaction has been positive. “This is media training on steroids written in a very easy-to-read and precise format," said one reader.

This is Barks’ third book, arriving on the heels of two publications last year — "A+ Strategies for C-Suite Communications: Turning Today’s Leaders into Tomorrow’s Influencers,"  and a new second edition of "The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations."

Reporters Don’t Hate You,  published by Ogmios Publishing, is available for sale worldwide in both print and ebook format at such outlets as Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Tolino.